Conway, Moncure Daniel

Testimonies Concerning Slavery.

London : Chapman and Hall, 1864.

First edition of Conway’s powerful abolitionist work, published only one year after he left America at the height of the Civil War to continue his fight against slavery in England. Octavo, original publisher’s green cloth rebacked with original spine laid down, gilt titles to the spine and front panel, floral ruling stamped in blind toContinue reading "Testimonies Concerning Slavery."

Sumner, Charles

The Anti-Slavery Enterprise: its Necessity, Practicability, and Dignity, With Glimpses at the Special Duties of the North. An Address before the People of New York, At the Metropolitan Theatre, May 9, 1855.

Boston : Ticknor and Fields, 1855.

Rare first separate edition of one of the most famous speeches by Sumner, “the most outspoken foe of slavery in the U.S. Senate.” Octavo, bound in period-style half sheep over marble covered boards with gilt titles to the spine on a morocco label, marbled endpapers. In near fine condition, signature to the title page.

Stowe, Harriet Beecher

Uncle Tom’s Cabin; Or, Life Among the Lowly.

Boston and Cleveland : John P. Jewett; Jewett, Proctor & Worthington, 1852.

First edition of Stowe’s classic and vastly influential novel, “the social impact was greater than any book before or since.” Octavo, two volumes bound in mid-20th century three quarter navy morocco over marbled boards by Blackwell with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers, top edgesContinue reading "Uncle Tom’s Cabin; Or, Life Among the Lowly."

Channing, William E.; Harriet Martineau

Lectures on the Elevation of the Labouring Portion of the Community.

Boston : Published by William D. Ticknor, 1840.

First edition of this collection of three important essays on slavery, the poor, and social change, written by Channing and Martineau, two major Unitarian reformers. Duodecimo, bound in nineteenth century half black sheep over marble covered boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, all edges red speckled. In very good condition.

Sunderland, Reverend La Roy

Anti-Slavery Manual, Containing a Collection of Facts and Arguments on American Slavery.

New York : Printed by S.W. Benedict, 1839.

Rare early, improved edition of this prominent religious leader’s influential call for America to end slavery. Duodecimo, contemporary brown paper boards. In very good condition, signatures to the front free endpaper.

le Carre, John

Call For The Dead.

London : Victor Gollancz, 1961.

First edition of the author’s first book, which introduced the world to the recurring protagonist, George Smiley. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery with gilt titles and ruling to the spine in five compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt inner dentelles stamp-signed by theContinue reading "Call For The Dead."

Hemingway, Ernest. [Lauren Bacall]

To Have and Have Not.

New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1937.

First edition of Ernest Hemingway’s fourth novel. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery with gilt titles and ruling to the spine in five compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, signature stamp to the front panel, gilt inner dentelles stamp-signed by the Harcourt Bindery, marbled endpapers,Continue reading "To Have and Have Not."

Armistead, Wilson

A Tribute For The Negro: Being a Vindication of the Moral, Intellectual, and Religious Capabilities of the Coloured Portion of Mankind; with Particular Reference to the African Race.

Manchester : William Irwin [and London, Charles Gilpin; New York, William Harned; Philadelphia, H. Longstreth and G. W. Taylor], 1848.

First edition, deluxe issue of Armistead’s best known work, containing possibly the most extensive collection of nineteenth-century slave narratives and biographies. Octavo, original publisher’s deluxe plum morocco gilt, flat spine decorated gilt, with a vignette depicting a pleading slave and the legend “Am I not a man and a brother” to the front board, allContinue reading "A Tribute For The Negro: Being a Vindication of the Moral, Intellectual, and Religious Capabilities of the Coloured Portion of Mankind; with Particular Reference to the African Race."

Prevost, Abbe

Histoire du Chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut. [The Story of the Chevalier des Grieux and of Manon Lescaut].

Stamford, Connecticut : The Overbrook Press, 1958.

The Overbrook Press limited edition of this classic French romance novel. Quarto, bound in full brown calf with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, morocco spine label, top stain red, marbled endpapers, frontispiece, title page vignette, with color silk-screen illustrations and decorations. One of 200 copies. In near fine condition. Accompanied by the originalContinue reading "Histoire du Chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut. [The Story of the Chevalier des Grieux and of Manon Lescaut]."

Rand, Ayn

The Romantic Manifesto: A Philosophy of Literature.

New York : The World Publishing Company, 1969.

First edition of this collection of essays regarding the nature of art. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery with gilt titles and ruling to the spine in five compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt inner dentelles stamp-signed by the Harcourt Bindery, marbled endpapers, allContinue reading "The Romantic Manifesto: A Philosophy of Literature."

By the Author of "Jane Eyre." [Bronte, Emily]

Wuthering Heights. A Novel.

New York : Harper & Brothers, Publishers, 1848.

First American edition of Emily Brontë’s singular masterpiece, preceding the Boston edition of the same year and published less than five months after the virtually unobtainable English edition. Octavo, bound in three quarter morocco over marbled boards with five raised bands to the spine, all edges marbled. The first English edition was published by NewbyContinue reading "Wuthering Heights. A Novel."

Doyle, Arthur Conan

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.

London : George Newnes, Limited, 1892-1894.

First editions, first issues of both volumes of Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic short story collections, starring literature’s most famous detective. Royal octavo, two volumes in the publisher’s original pictorial black and gilt-stamped light blue and dark blue cloth, patterned endpapers, all edges gilt, illustrated by Sidney Paget. First issues, Adventures with the street scene vignetteContinue reading "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes."

The Thirde Parte of the Bible, Conteining These Bookes. The Psalter. The Proverbes. Ecclesiastes. Cantica Canticorum. The Prophetes.

London : Henry Bynneman and Richard Jugge for William Norton, 1575.

Rare 16th century English printing of a portion of the Bishop’s Bible. Quarto, bound in 18th century half calf over marbled boards, gilt ruling to the spine, paper titular label to the front panel, title page printed within a wide woodcut compartmental border featuring and angel above the date of publication in the upper compartmentContinue reading "The Thirde Parte of the Bible, Conteining These Bookes. The Psalter. The Proverbes. Ecclesiastes. Cantica Canticorum. The Prophetes."

Tolstoy, Leo

Sochinenia Grafa L.N. Tolstogo [Childhood, Boyhood, Youth].

Moscow : Typ. I.N. Kushnerev i Ko, 1893.

Early Russian printing of Tolstoy’s trilogy Childhood, Boyhood, Youth. Quarto, original half leather. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the title page to his doctor, “To Dmitry Vasil’evich Nikitin. Leo Tolstoy. 28 March 1903.” With an original photograph of Tolstoy with Dmitry Nikitin opposite the title page. The recipient, Dmitry Nikitin was Tolstoy’s familyContinue reading "Sochinenia Grafa L.N. Tolstogo [Childhood, Boyhood, Youth]."

Saint-Exupery, Antoine de; Translated by Katherine Woods

The Little Prince.

New York : Reynal and Hitchcock, 1943.

First edition of Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s masterpiece, which precedes the first edition in French. Translated from the French by Katherine Woods. Small quarto, bound in full modern full pictorial brown morocco with inlay tooling to the front panel by the Harcourt Bindery, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers, illustrated by the author. In fine condition. A stunning example.

Chambers, Robert

Traditions of Edinburgh. [Fore-Edge Painting].

London and Edinburgh : W & R Chambers, 1869.

Finely bound example of Chambers’ work on the history and legends of Scotland. Octavo, bound in full pebbled red morocco with gilt titles and elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, elaborate floral ruling and gilt central vignette of Edinburgh Castle to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-insContinue reading "Traditions of Edinburgh. [Fore-Edge Painting]."

Manno, Don Giuseppe

De’ Vizj De’ Letterati. [On the Vices of Men of Letters].

Naples : R. Marotta and Vanspandoch, 1830.

Finely bound example of this literary and moral critique of scholars, writers, intellectuals, and academic culture. Tricesimo-secondo, written in Italian, bound in three-quarters later morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles and floral tooling to the spine. In very good condition.

Snead, Sam; Al Stump

The Education of a Golfer.

New York : Simon and Schuster, 1962.

First edition of this work by the legendary golfer, who became golf’s biggest money winner. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery with gilt titles and ruling to the spine in five compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt inner dentelles stamp-signed by the Harcourt Bindery,Continue reading "The Education of a Golfer."

Siddur Avodat Israel with English Translation.

Tel-Aviv : Sinai Publishing, 1967.

Rare elaborately bound Jewish Siddur prayer book. Small octavo, bound in full silver metal with elaborate tooling to the spine and panels, inlaid turquoise decorations to the front panel, patterned enpdapers, ribbon bound in. English translation facing the Hebrew text. In fine condition. Presentation bookplate to the pastedown. An elaborate presentation.

Rand, Ayn

Atlas Shrugged.

New York : Random House, 1957.

First edition, first printing of one of the most influential novels of the twentieth century. Large octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery with gilt titles and ruling to the spine in five compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt inner dentelles stamp-signed by the HarcourtContinue reading "Atlas Shrugged."

Dickens, Charles

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby.

London : Chapman and Hall, 1839.

First edition, first issue in book form of one of Dickens’ most popular novels. Octavo, bound in three quarter calf over marbled boards by Zaehnsdorf with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, marbled endpapers gilt topstain, with 39 engraved plates by Phiz, frontispiece portrait of Dickens. First issueContinue reading "The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby."

Conrad, Joseph

Laughing Anne.

London : The Morland Press, 1923.

The Vine Books limited edition of this dramatic play about a former Parisian club singer struggling in the South Seas. Octavo, bound in full parchment with gilt titles to the spine, top edge gilt, title page vignette. One of 200 numbered copies, this is number 180. Boldly signed by Joseph Conrad on the limitations page. InContinue reading "Laughing Anne."

Dickens, Charles

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby.

London : Chapman and Hall, 1839.

First edition in book form of one of Dickens’ most popular novels. Octavo, bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards, elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, with the steel-engraved frontispiece portrait of Dickens in the firstContinue reading "The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby."

Grant, Ulysses S. [U.S.]

Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant.

New York : Charles L. Webster & Company, 1885-1886.

First edition of the autobiography of Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th President of the United States, which covers his military career during the Mexican War and the Civil War. Octavo, two volumes, original green cloth with gilt titles to the spine and front panel, gilt central emblem to the front and rear panels, patterned endpapers,Continue reading "Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant."